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Hyundai debuts 2016 i20 WRC

Hyundai unveils its WRC contender for next year

With the second generation i20 launched worldwide in late 2014, it was only a matter of time before it became a rally car. Hyundai will be entering its third WRC season with the second generation i20.

Testing for the new i20 WRC began early this year and was driven over various surfaces, giving the car a total test mileage of 8,000 kilometers. According to Hyundai, the car has already proven to be quicker than the previous model, with the team's drivers also praising improved drivability.

The rally car's shell is still based on the road-going version of the i20 but receives a host of body and aerodynamic additions. For starters, the front bumper is wider with large air intakes for engine and brake cooling systems. Complementing the wider bumper are a pair of flared fenders to accommodate dirt and racing tires. The quarter panels also get extensions for the tires. Interestingly, the i20 WRC gets a bi-plane rear wing, consisting of two spoilers each with different angles. The 2016 i20 WRC also sports an updated livery with primary sponsors Shell and Mobis being the most prominent names on the car.

Last year, Hyundai ranked third in the constructor's championship with Thierry Neuville being the team's top driver. For Hyundai's third year in WRC, Hayden Patton joins Dani Sordo and Thierry Neuville to compete for a full season.

“I’m really looking forward to the new season – my third with Hyundai Motorsport. It will be a fresh start for me as 2015 was a difficult year in which I had some bad luck and mistakes. I come out of it stronger and more motivated than ever and I’m eager to start the season with our New Generation i20 WRC. The objective for us will always be the same, to be as close as possible to the top and hopefully to fight for some victories along the season. I have a lot of confidence in the new car - it’s all new compared to the current version and I’m positive we will be closer to our main rivals.” said Neuville.

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